LA Downtown News 05-04-20

May 4, 2020 I VOL. 49 I #18

‘Behind Closed Doors’ Public safety campaign brings awareness to in-home crimes

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Testing Available LA County residents don’t need symptoms Page 2

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Symptoms or not, county residents can get free COVID-19 testing

By Carrie Snider o get a handle on the coronavirus, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced free virus testing for all LA County residents, whether or not they are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19.

Priority will still be given to those experiencing fever, cough and shortness of breath, as well as front-line workers.

Anyone experiencing extreme symptoms should call 911. COVID-19 testing is available by appointment only at https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs.

LA will be the first major city in the country to offer this type of wide-scale testing to all its residents. Testing will take place at eight locations within the city.

Garcetti explained this is an expansion of what the city had started doing soon after the outbreak in the United States. On March 20, the city began testing first responders. In the coming weeks, testing sites went up around the region and testing increased.

Thanks to LA County and the nonprofit emergency response organization CORE, there are 34 sites in the region with a capacity to test around 18,000 people per day, according to Garcetti. But, he added, they need to do more.

“So long as COVID-19 spreads, we have to scale up our response—and because this disease can be a silent killer, we have carefully built the capacity to get more people tested,” Garcetti said. “No one should have to wait, wonder or risk infecting others. Don’t leave it to chance. Schedule a test.”

Testing has already been prioritized for the city’s homeless, as well as senior facilities, some of whom have been tested more than once.

According to numbers from County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, there is a disproportionate rate of COVID-19 infection in the working class and those living in poverty; that population is also seeing the highest rate of

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deaths per capita in LA County.

“This pandemic has created new injustices and highlighted old ones,” Garcetti said. “Testing is one of the best tools we have to fight this virus.”

While LA has stay-at-home orders through May 15, the mayor stressed that isn’t an invitation for a free-for-all for everyone to go back to how things were before

coronavirus hit. Many are anxious to get the economy going; however, May 15 won’t be a full-scale reopening.

“We must take small steps,” he said. While people are hungry to see steps toward normalcy, the mayor urged residents to see this race through to the end, including taking necessary precautions to slow the spread through social distancing, staying home as much as possible and wearing protective masks.

“Whatever it takes to flatten the curve,” Garcetti said. To fund recovery efforts, the mayor hopes to get the economy going by strategically getting residents back to work while still practicing safe practices.

Photo courtesy the mayor’s office

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski STAFF WRITERS: Annika Tomlin CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sara Edwards, Kamala Kirk, Emma Richburg, Haley Smilow, Carrie Snider ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

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The mayor also announced the city is launching a new program called Project Safe Haven, which is aimed at protecting survivors of domestic violence. Since the pandemic began, the LAPD and other agencies have seen an uptick in domestic violence calls.

With a $4.2 million donation from singer/ actress Rihanna and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Project Safe Haven can house around 900 families for the next three months.

“We want everybody to be safer at home, but for some folks, we know that home is not necessarily a safe place due to domestic violence,” Garcetti said.

This Skid Row testing center is one of many around LA County.

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Covered help LETTERSCalifornia TO THE will EDITOR

STAY...

GAMBLE’S OPINION

Diseases• don’t respect borders LOCALLY UPDATED

the next INFORMED pandemic requires our elected lead• PROPERLY ers, like Sens. Harris and Feinstein, to look • SAFE If the coronavirus outbreak has taught us beyond borders and focus not just on crisis

Editor:

anything, it’s that global health security is response but also crisis prevention. Now is the time forworld the United and our interonly as strongAt as itsaweakest That’s why timelink. when the entire isStates in an we need a global strategy to defeat this glob- national partners to come together as one ever-changing state, world andand health concerns make bold new commitments to al pandemic. you strengthen can continue tosecurity rely and stop global health There is noare silverparamount, bullet to stopping prepreventable diseases from spreading.

It is in ventable diseaseson like LA the coronavirus from Downtown News to keep you spreading, but we know that investments our power to build stronger global health sysinformed on how COVID-19 virus is like the tems and prevent future pandemics in stronger health systems—from well- the coronavirus, but only if we continue to invest equipped hospitals to new vaccines, treataffecting your local community.

We ments and practices—are all vital tools. For in new and proven global health programs appreciate the trust placed in us as the every single dollar invested in global health, while ensuring they increasingly target the news themost community. world’s vulnerable. there is an estimated 10- to and 20-fold voice return in of economic benefits.

Being good stewards of that trust means Josephine Borchardt Defeating the coronavirus and stopping

we are here for you, especially in difficult times.

Hey you! Speak up!

Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like or dislike a story, let us know, or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community.

Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.

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Helping You Stay Safer at Home During this uncertain time with the coronavirus, LADWP wants you to know that we are working 24/7 to keep your power on and water flowing.

Our crews will respond to water and power outages. Call us or report an outage online at ladwp.com/outages.

Your tap water is safe to drink. There is no need to buy bottled water. The coronavirus does not affect your drinking water.

Our team members are essential city workers continuing to work hard while taking safety measures.

Need help paying your bill? We can help.

Visit LADWP.com/financialassistance or call us at 1-800-DIAL-DWP. We will not shut off your water and power for non-payment.

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MAY 4, 2020

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City makes changes to upcoming council, committee meetings

By Connor Dziawura os Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez in a letter to her colleagues April 27 announced plans for how the city will move forward with council and committee meetings.

The council will meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays—instead of just Wednesdays—beginning the week of May 4. A trial run of remote committee meetings is also slated, as are plans to respond to Mayor Eric Garcetti’s budget proposal.

“As the city of Los Angeles, the state and nation grapple with two conflicting realities—a growing daily infection and death toll from COVID-19—and evidence that our quarantine ‘Safer at Home’ policies are helping us flatten the curve, this City Council must and will continue to do the people of Los Angeles’ business that we are bound by duty and law to execute,” the District 6 councilwoman wrote.

Since an emergency was declared in Los Angeles and California, Martinez said, council members have “deliberated in marathon sessions to set strong and sound policy to protect Angelenos to the fullest extent of our ju-

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risdictional ability while calling on our state and federal partners to act on the issues they have legal authority over, including rent and mortgage relief, and federal assistance for the working poor, including immigrant families and their children.”

Martinez said she is also re-establishing LA City Council committee meetings, with Councilman Bob Blumenfield holding “practice runs” of remote sessions, via a teleconferencing system similar to that used for remote council meetings. The letter was sent out prior to a special April 30 Public Works & Gang Reduction Committee meeting, of which Blumenfield is chairman.

“Those efforts have been successful,” Martinez wrote of remote council meetings, adding of committee teleconferences: “If successful, I will bring additional committees online.”

Martinez also said she and Councilman Paul Krekorian worked together to “forgo our normal budget proceedings” and make plans to address Garcetti’s April 20 budget proposal.

A Budget & Finance Committee meeting will be hosted by Krekorian, the chairman, at 10 a.m. Monday, May 11, to “hear a CLA/CAO

DOWNTOWN NEWS 5

In a letter to her colleagues sent April 27, LA City Council President Nury Martinez, representing District 6, said council members will meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays—instead of just Wednesdays— beginning the week of May 4. She also announced “practice runs” of remote committee meetings as well as plans to respond to the mayor’s budget proposal.

Photo courtesy nury-martinez.com

report on the city’s financial health and the proposed budget.”

City departments will not address the committee directly, Martinez added, so they are encouraged to put remarks on the budget in writing.

“We are in unchartered waters, and the city’s Budget & Finance Committee will need to meet periodically to discuss and update the City Council on the latest budget numbers and their impacts so that we can adjust in real time and make sound and informed

decisions on behalf of the city of Los Angeles,” Martinez wrote. “As long as the city of Los Angeles remains in a state of emergency, Councilmember Krekorian and I will deliberate on when those meetings should occur.

“As we move forward while dealing with this suspended state we are in, knowing all too well lives are at stake and people are hurting in all ways, including financially, I thank this City Council for doing what is right and responsible in protecting our constituents.”

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MAY 4, 2020

Newsom honored with charity bobblehead

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski alifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom’s resemblance has been emblazoned in clay, thanks to Wisconsin’s National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

The collectible will sell for $25, with $5 from each bobblehead sold going to the Protect the Heroes fund in support of the 100 Million Mask Challenge. Previously, the hall of fame and museum raised more than $175,000 through the sale of Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx bobbleheads.

Newsom’s bobblehead joins that of Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. They are scheduled for July delivery.

“It all started the beginning of this month, when we produced bobbleheads of Dr. Fauci,” says Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

“We were getting some requests for him and we kept seeing him in the news. He’s somebody who’s be-

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5/31/20.

coming a national hero and guiding this country through the pandemic. I wanted to honor Dr. Fauci.

Within a week, he’s our best-selling bobblehead of all time. We’ve sold 32,000.”

The scarf-laden Birx was a popular request, too. Sklar said it was a natural move to start memorializing governors.

“Gov. Newsom rose to the top of the list and one of the four that we’ve released,” Sklar said.

Daily, Sklar is surrounded by 6,500 unique bobbleheads, thanks to visitors from all 50 states. The only museum dedicated to bobbleheads, the facility opened February 1, 2019. Closed since mid-March due to the pandemic, the museum has 75% sports bobbleheads and 25% oddities.

He has yet to hear from Newsom.

“Tony Evers talked about us on Facebook. That was cool to see,” Sklar said. “Dr. Fauci commented about his. We’re pleased it’s raising so much money for a good cause.”

A California Gov. Gavin Newsom collectible will sell for $25, with $5 from each bobblehead sold going to the Protect the Heroes fund in support of the 100 Million Mask Challenge.

Submitted photo

MAY 4, 2020

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MAY 4, 2020

Everytable brings food to the impoverished

By Haley Smilow os Angeles is a city of roughly 3.99 million people. Of that population, about 19.1% is impoverished, according to the 2020 Census Bureau. And during this quarantine, impoverished, older folks and minorities are the ones most in need. Fortunately for them, Everytable, a Los Angeles-based restaurant chain, is there to help.

Along with Mayor Eric Garcetti, Everytable has set up an Emergency Senior Meals Response program. Every Wednesday, Everytable and the mayor’s office deliver free meals to LA residents who are 60 and older. For people who are not, Everytable has set up a hotline at 213-263-5226 that people can call if they are in need of food.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Everytable had nine established restaurants around Los Angeles and was serving people in food deserts. These people needed accessible food that was quick to get, cheap and healthy.

“The mission of Everytable is to be the healthy alternative to McDonald’s,” said CEO Sam Polk.

Today, while seven out of nine of Everytable’s restaurants remain closed, they are putting out more meals than ever. During the past few months they have delivered 1.5 million meals to the people of LA Before the virus Everytable was serving about 30,000 meals a week.

Monica Rutkowski, the marketing director, said they are putting out about 100,000 meals a week. A majority of those meals are going to college students, homeless people and seniors

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who are not able to get to grocery stores safely or easily.

That thought forced the company to shift its business model. But head chef Zach Thomas isn’t concerned.

“We’ve been trying to make our menu work as hard as it can,” Thomas said. “At first we were repurposing and combining recipes in our current deck, but since then, we’ve also brought on some consulting chefs to help handle the increased request for variety as we’ve had to pivot to focus on our subscription business and the new LAHSA shelter hotel contacts we’ve picked up in the last few weeks. We’ve increased the frequency we release menu items and also incorporated” a dedicated senior-focused menu to handle the demand for new menu items for the thousands of seniors trapped in their homes.”

In addition to the new hires, Everytable is launching 30 new menu items in the coming weeks. The new items will appeal to the elderly and those in shelters, Thomas explained.

Everytable’s takeaway is “people still need to eat,” Thomas said. “Moreover, they need to feel like we care enough to prepare beautiful, well-thought-out meals for them. That is not lost on our team. With every new meal we create, we carry the attitude with us that whoever is eating our food should feel that we cared enough to make it as if we were in their homes, sitting at the table with them. Even though there are thousands of them. There’s always enough food to go around, and we’re happy to make it.”

MAY 4, 2020

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MAY 4, 2020

‘Virus’ artwork represents everyone

By Emma Richburg owntown Los Angeles artists Keri Rosebraugh and Adam Guy have created a largescale installation north of the First Street bridge in support of the global fight against the coronavirus, using 100 clay roof tiles as the medium.

“The tiles symbolize home, because they are used to make the rooftops of so many buildings in Southern California,” Rosebraugh said. “They are direct, and this whole virus is hitting everyone—and everybody has a roof. I wanted to use something that was very readable to get the point across.”

Rosebraugh and Guy lined up the tiles like dominoes, spelling out the word “virus” in 12-foot letters. The two artists then proceeded to crush the first three letters of the word with a sledgehammer and pickaxe, leaving the remaining part of the word as “us.” Guy documented the piece in photo and on video, using a camera and drone.

Rosebraugh works in Los Angeles and Marnay Sur Seine, France. Her work revolves around connections between man and nature, exploring how humans and the environment affect each other. Rosebraugh’s artwork is included in the Permanent Collection of the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Florina in Greece, in the Natural History Museum/State Darwin Museum in Moscow, as well as numerous exhibitions in Italy.

A Hawaii native, Guy is based in Los Angeles. He began his artistic study in paint, charcoal and figure drawing and later explored photography. For 10 years, Guy shot exclusively using film, until 2010 when he began incorporating digital stills and motion. He now uses a broad range of photographic techniques to create his imagery.

“Although our approach to our practices are different from each other’s, our subject matter is very similar, even though our work isn’t,” Rosebraugh said. “We both study the examination of human relationships with nature and how nature affects us, and we affect nature.”

The two artists live alone, across from one another in an industrial warehouse studio. A majority of the other residents left due to COVID-19. After both artists self-isolated for four weeks,

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they began planning the “virus” art installation.

“During times like these you wonder what you can do,” Rosebraugh said. “The bottom line is I’m not a doctor. I’m not a nurse. I don’t know how to sew or make masks. You know, we’re artists, so we do what we can do,” Rosebraugh said.

“A lot of my practice has to do with installations with land art and larger installations, and his (Guy) has to do with photography and video, so we merged the two together and decided to do this video to share with people that they are not alone. Everyone has their fears, and we are all trying to get through this together.”

The installation and performance art was created and executed north of the First Street bridge with the LA river and cityscape as the backdrop.

Rosebraugh said the First Street bridge with the LA River and cityscape as the backdrop was perfect for the project.

“I think it turned out to what we hoped it to be,” she said. “We really wanted a backdrop of the city, and so that specific location worked really well, and the video and drone did a really good job at showing where we were. That location is so modified by man, from the graffiti and the concrete and the buildings, and it shows the connection to man and nature—or antinature and the virus. I think it all connects works together.”

The process took the artists about three hours to execute. With social distancing in place, this installation let them share the frustration of their current challenges while conveying a public message that we are all in this fight together.

“I think in the end, the emotions all add up to a bit of grief for what’s happening and fear of the unknown. That’s part of the reason it says ‘us,’ because we will get through this,” Rosebraugh said. “There will be an us in the end of this, but we just don’t know what that us will be after this. We will not be the same—but there will be an us.”

To view a short video, visit youtu.be/Cil_mNACnT4.

MAY 4, 2020

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‘Behind Closed Doors’ gives a voice to the most vulnerable

By Sara Edwards ity Attorney Mike Feuer and District Attorney Jackie Lacey launched a new campaign April 24 called “Behind Closed Doors,” a public safety campaign to bring awareness to in-home crimes happening around Los Angeles.

In a press conference, Feuer said the shelter-in-place orders put the most vulnerable residents in even greater harm.

“I’m very alarmed at what appears to be a dramatic decrease in reporting of crimes relating to our most vulnerable,” Feuer said. “What goes on behind closed doors can remain invisible and sometimes be deadly.”

Feuer said in the month since the emergency order to stay at home was issued, there has been a 47% drop in reported physical child abuse and a 67% drop in reported sexual child abuse. He also said there has been a 50% reduction in reporting of elder abuse and a 13% drop in domestic violence reporting. These decreases, he said, are not because there is simply less child abuse happening but because of less reporting.

“We’re launching our ‘Behind Closed Doors’ campaign and partnering with our grocers and school district to alert delivery personnel, home repair workers, neighbors, family and friends to immediately text or call 911 if you believe someone needs help,” Feuer said.

The “Behind Closed Doors” campaign aims to enlist consumers and essential workers like grocers, service providers and delivery personnel to be alert and aware of in-home crimes and report any suspicions of abuse or neglect.

It shared a flier of hotlines and information for shelters for people experiencing in-home crimes and where they can get help. With the help of the California Grocers Association and the Los Angeles Unified School District, this information will be on a flier displayed and handed out in grocery stores and Grab and Go Food Centers so that anyone can access them.

“We in law enforcement are especially concerned right now with protecting the people who live, work and visit Los Angeles County from domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse,” Lacey said. “It’s up to all of us to make sure that our family, friends, neighbors and colleagues get through this public health emergency without becoming a victim of crime.”

Lacey said in-home crimes don’t stop because of a pandemic or crisis and typically happen behind closed doors. Before the pandemic, teachers, medical professionals and other community members reported these crimes for victims who could not or would not seek help, but because of business and school closures, that resource has been forced to stop.

Lacey said it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to reporting suspected abuse. When looking for signs or evidence of potential abuse, some signs to keep an eye out for are unexpected bruises, marks or injuries. When it comes to seniors, neglect is also a form of abuse, and though senior centers are closed to outsiders, Lacey said to keep in contact with loved ones in these centers to make sure they are OK. “I’m asking every person who lives and works in Los Angeles County to keep an eye out for people who may need your help,” she said. “You don’t have to be a victim yourself to call these hotlines and make a report a crime. Others are depending upon you to take notice and do something.”

The campaign isn’t the only aggressive step Los Angeles is taking when it comes to inhome crimes. Feuer said the city attorney’s office is doing check-ins with victims of elder abuse or domestic abuse. The sheriff’s office is also doing welfare checks on locations where child abuse may be present.

“Our office is checking in with elderly victims and victims of domestic violence as well to see how things are going,” Feuer said. “Merely that checking in may surface additional information and also provide comfort and connection to those victims.”

Lacey said essential businesses like grocery stores are a safe haven for victims who are isolated with their abuser, and the city of Los Angeles has to congregate as a community and say something if abuse of any kind is suspected.

“Be their voice, call in and let us check on them to make sure they’re OK instead of later saying, ‘Gee, I wish I would’ve done something,’” she said.

To find out more information about “Behind Closed Doors” and other efforts the city attorney’s office is doing, visit lacityattorney.org/covid19.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

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MAY 4, 2020

Aquarium of the Pacific has an online academy with live classes for students, as well as an online learning center that offers educational videos on demand.

Photo courtesy Robin Riggs

Museums offer free digital educational resources for kids

By Kamala Kirk ith schools across the nation closed as a result of COVID-19, SoCal Museums has compiled a compelling selection of online educational opportunities for K-12 students from more than 30 museums and cultural institutions throughout Southern California. From easyto-follow crafts and animal webcams to stargazing and neighborhood birding, families and teachers around the world have access to a wide range of subjects and different learning modalities to enhance athome learning.

“We knew there was a need for families looking for ideas, tools and inspiration to keep their school-aged children engaged with learning experiences that can be implemented at home,” said Jennifer Caballero, president of SoCal Museums. “Many of our member museums plan to continuously update their offerings as long as this kind of content is helpful.”

Many of the offerings are brand new, while others were pulled from existing resources from each museum. There is no cost to access the online activities, which are accessible to anyone around the world.

Participating institutions include The Broad, which is offering weekly art activity tutorials inspired by artists from its collection; the Getty Museum, which is offering lessons on the fundamentals of photography; and many others.

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“The SoCal Museums organization reflects the highly collaborative museum community in the region, and we rely on the talents and expertise of our museum educators and specialists in creating materials and programs for families,” Caballero shared. “Once we realized that there were so many helpful resources, it was fairly straightforward to gather the various information and put it in one place to help get the word out.”

SoCal Museums is an organization made up of marketing and communications professionals from museums across Southern California. Its mission is to develop collaborative opportunities between museums and foster dialogue between these professionals at museums in order to learn from each other, network, conceptualize and execute ways to increase visitation to and awareness of Southern California museums.

SoCal Museums also presents the Museums Free-for-All Day, where more than 40 museums open their doors and invite visitors to attend free of charge.

“For more than 15 years, SoCal Museums has made arts and culture more accessible to our communities, including visitors from outside the region,” said Caballero. “In the face of this global crisis, our member museums are finding a way to bring exciting and transformative cultural experiences to our younger audiences. We are pleased to offer a wide range of activities to not only local

children and educators, but people in other parts of the country and the world.”

Check out the complete list of digital offerings from participating museums and cultural institutions below: Annenberg Space for Photography: Educational resources, tools and support for educators, including documentaries and resource guides from past exhibitions. All ages.

Armory Center for the Arts: Links to 12 training videos and lesson plans for math and art integration. Grades 2 and 3.

Autry Museum of the American West: Standards-based and self-paced lessons that engage students with Autry collections through interactive activities and connections to home and today. Plus, themed Digital Tours featuring Autry collections.

All ages.

Aquarium of the Pacific: An online academy, which includes live classes for students, animal webcams, resource kits and activities, an online learning center, educational videos on demand, the Daily Bubble puppet show and more. All ages.

The Broad: Weekly art activity tutorials inspired by artists from the Broad collection, which will be released every Friday morn-

ing on social media. Grades K to 6.

Bowers Museum: Bowers at Home, a portal with digital exhibition access, virtual learning, community resources and more.

All ages.

California Science Center: #StuckAtHomeScience for families to explore and learn together using easy-to-find household supplies. All ages.

Catalina Island Museum: Projects related to the “Catalina Ambassadors Program,” coloring pages and digital puzzles created from paintings from their exhibitions. All ages.

Cayton Children’s Museum: #CaytonRecess with storytelling, sing-alongs, creative exercises and artmaking every weekend on YouTube. Toddlers-10 and families.

City of STEM Science Festival: STEM resources from over 100 partner organizations, curated in a way that is easy and accessible for kids, parents and teachers.

Grades pre-K to 12.

Columbia Memorial Space Center: Its most popular, creative and engaging activities online, from engineering to chemistry.

Grades pre-K to 8.

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In addition to coloring sheets and nature games, Santa Barbara Museum of Art also provides guides for neighborhood birding and backyard observations.

Grammy Museum offers educational lesson plans ages that pay tribute to our musical heritage.

Photo courtesy SoCal Museums

Photo courtesy SoCal Museums

Craft Contemporary: Craft at Home, a new series of easy-to-follow craft activities for the whole family. All ages.

Hammer Museum: Indoor inspiration on Pinterest, featuring artmaking activities inspired by the collection. Ages 5 to 10.

Descanso Gardens: #DescansoatHome, which includes virtual tours, nature and science activities, including how-tos on taking a nature walk and crafts. Ages 2 to 10 and families.

Heroes Hall Museum and Education Center offers curriculum guides, covering topics including the local military history of Orange County and WWII in general. Grades 6 to 12.

FIDM Museum: FIDM Museum Family Activity Book, which encourages kids to observe and interact with objects in the collection. All ages.

Fowler Museum at UCLA: A curriculum guide designed for educators, which includes eight lessons inspired by the exhibition “Striking Iron: The Art of African Blacksmiths.” Grades K to 12.

Getty Museum: Lessons on the fundamentals of photography as part of a teen-centric education program, “Getty Unshuttered.” The lessons include perspective, composition, shot size, lighting and portraits. Teens.

Glendora Historical Society & Rubel Castle: The history of the castle, tours of grounds, exhibitions, property and the Tin Palace Museum. All ages.

Grammy Museum: Educational lesson plans, such as GRAMMY In The Schools Mini-Lessons, paying tribute to our musical heritage. All ages.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens: Virtual classroom instruction for educators. Grades K to 12.

Japanese American National Museum: Educational content and resources for the classroom and at home, including at-home handson activities and virtual interviews. Grades K to 12, families.

Kidspace Children’s Museum: Learning at home with Kidspace-At-Home—curated programming and resources developed to spark connection, creativity, laughter and inspiration. Ages 10 and under.

Kleefeld Contemporary at CSULB: Salon and artmaking experiences, and thoughtful activities to aid students and families to explore their feelings through art. All ages.

Laguna Art Museum: At-home art activities inspired by the museum’s exhibitions and collections. All ages.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA): Online curricular resources that foster creativity, inspire personal growth, and enhance learning. Grades K–12. LACMA@Home offers additional digital resources to think and learn about art. All ages.

Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust offers guides for educators for teaching the Holocaust through primary sources and Holocaust survivor testimony, as well as short student-created films about the lives of Holocaust survivors. Grades 6 to 12.

Muckenthaler Cultural Center: Virtual haiku workshop for families led by Muck Artist in Residence, Katharine Zaun.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): Virtual MOCA: Back to School; Every Monday, MOCA educators lead a new family-friendly activity through interactive workshops, virtual Talking Tours, and classroom curriculum discussions. Grades K to 12.

Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) offers explorations of its exhibitions, collection and beyond. All ages.

Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County offers NHMLAC Connects, a new digital portal to discover and learn about nature, science and culture from the safety of our homes. Grades K–12.

Norton Simon Museum: Ways to explore the Museum’s collection from home with artmaking projects, videos, meditations and more. All ages.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute: Online high school speech and debate competition. Grades 9 to 12.

Santa Barbara Museum of Art: Activities for indoors, outdoors and online, including guides for neighborhood birding and backyard observations, stargazing guides, coloring sheets, nature games and more. All ages.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center: Activities for indoors, outdoors or online, including guides for neighborhood birding and backyard observations, stargazing guides, coloring sheets, nature games and more. All ages.

Skirball Cultural Center: Weekly #SkirballAtHome, family-friendly art projects, plus suggestions for ways to build community, even from our homes. Ages 4 to 12.

Wende Museum: #WendeOnline, featuring educational resources, including creative activities based on exhibitions, access to the online collection, and interactive museum programs. All ages.

For more information, visit socalmuseums.org.

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MAY 4, 2020

Arielle Silver is enjoying living in California because of the multitude of great songwriters.

Photo courtesy Arielle Silver

Arielle Silver is all about second chances

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski rielle Silver had a successful music career when she just up and quit 10 years ago.

After years of regional tours, and then a six-month national tour with her trio in support of her third album, she put away her guitar, moved to Los Angeles and landed a behind-the-scenes job in the music business.

After hours, she studied and taught yoga philosophy, won awards for her literary writing, got divorced, got married and performed at SoCal world music festivals as a background singer and instrumentalist.

But her own music came calling.

“The reason I quit and came back both came from a really deep place inside me,” Silver said. “When I stopped playing I couldn’t do it anymore. I had done it my whole life. It was the life force for me. It was just something I needed to do and loved to do until I didn’t.”

One day she woke up from a “crazy dream” and it inspired her to do something she never considered.

“It compelled me to go in the backyard and clear a space,” she said. “I didn’t know I was going to build a shed in which to write songs. I just suddenly felt I needed to clean the backyard and get back to something elemental, I guess.”

As soon as she built the shed—six weeks later—she started writing songs again.

“I was feeling my gut instinct,” she said. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”

Despite 10 years off, when Silver launched a spring 2019 crowd-funding campaign, she raised over $26,000 to record a new indie folk Americana album, “A Thousand Tiny Torches.”

The title comes from a lyric on the album.

The songs—about fireflies, wildfires and shining a light into the darkness—are slated for release in July.

Produced by Shane Alexander, the project was recorded by Michael Gehring at Secret World Studios in the legendary Sound City complex in Los Angeles. It’s being mixed by Grammy winner Brian Yaskulka (Lisa Loeb) and mastered by Grammy winner Hans DeKline (U2). The album features drummer Denny Weston Jr. (KT Tunstall), keyboardist Carl Byron (Rita Coolidge), bassist Darby Orr (Naked to the World), steel guitarist Jesse Siebenberg (Lady Gaga, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real) and mandolinist Mike Mullins (David Grisman).

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The first single is “What Really Matters,” which hit streaming services on February 28. The song was inspired by the November 2018 shootings at the Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks, and the Woolsey and Hill fires. The events made her think about what really matters most. “‘What Really Matters’ emerged from my process of challenging myself to write a song a week,” Silver added.

“All of California looked like it was on fire. A lot of people lost their homes. Thousands were evacuated. The sky was dark and ashy. That week, I wrote two songs. One was ‘What Really Matters.’ We have our personal tragedies in our lives, and then there are these cultural tragedies or local tragedies that are public. It’s terrible.”

The second single, “Headlights,” is due out this month.

Silver’s songs have been licensed internationally for film/TV. She has performed at venues around the country, including Club Passim, 12th and Porter, and Eddie’s Attic, with many of her favorite songwriters, including America, Elizabeth & the Catapult, Kris Delmhorst, St. Vincent, Jay Nash, Rebecca Loebe and Chris Pierce.

Also an essayist and poet, Silver’s literary work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best New Poets, and has appeared in Matador Review, Moment, Lilith Magazine, Under The Gum Tree, Brevity and Jet Fuel Review.

Silver said she can’t wait until the COVID-19 crisis is over so she can hit the road again.

“I want to head back east to Boston to play a few shows in July,” she said. “I just restarted my career, but I’m simultaneously making long-term and mid-term plans. I’m building the house as I’m living in it.

“I’m just enjoying living in California. There are so many great songwriters here. It’s been fun digging into person by person learning about new venues, acoustic music listening rooms, and events happening in wineries and hotel lobbies. It’s different than what I experience in the first go at this career.”

Arielle Silver ariellesilver.com

MAY 4, 2020

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 15

Burritos Locos offers “massive,” 2-pound burritos, according to chief marketing officer Matt Smith.

Photo courtesy Burritos Locos

Burritos Locos banks on delivery-only pandemic mandate

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski n a time when restaurants want to return to dine-in options, The Madera Group has launched a delivery-only concept.

From the company behind Tocaya Organica and Toca Madera, Burritos Locos offers its quirky style of Mexican food to patrons in Downtown LA. “It’s a tough time to open a restaurant, but at the same time, we think there’s a big need for a delivery-only brand,” said Matt Smith, chief marketing officer.

“We think people will take to what we’re doing. We’re a burrito-only concept.”

Postmates has partnered with the restaurant known for dishes like Pablo’s Spicy Beef (spicy beef, fried serrano peppers, arbol salsa, crema, onion and cilantro mix, cheese blend, Mexican rice and black beans); Nashville Hot Chicken (organic diablo chicken, Nashville-style hot sauce, bread and butter pickles, crema, Mexican rice and piano beans), and Beyond Ridiculous (vegan picadillo, sautéed peppers and onions, roasted tomato salsa, vegan mozzarella, cilantro lime rice and black beans).

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When guests see the menu, Smith said their looks are priceless.

“Their reaction is pretty great,” he said.

“They’ve really taking a liking to what we’re doing. The goal was to really cast a wider net on the demographic. This is more about the once- or twice-a-week indulgence.”

Delivery is available from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week. Other new locations are in Westwood, West Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Hollywood and Playa Vista.

Downtown LA was the perfect location for Burritos Locos.

“We just think Downtown is a really good market for us,” he said. “There’s a really nice mix of food offerings in the Downtown area. It’s a really, really nice mix of people and more so than other parts of Los Angeles, where neighborhoods are much more set in stone and distinguished.

“Downtown has a good mix. There’s a huge need for a delicious burrito in Downtown LA. We haven’t seen a concept like this. These are massive, 2-pound burritos.

They’re huge. It’s two Chipotle burritos.”

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MAY 4, 2020